BRATTLEBORO — To the residents of Brattleboro and, more specifically, residents of Windham 2-1:
I took this time to write to you based on facts, not the wishful thinking that seems to impair judgment on very important issues that will inevitably affect us all.
For those of us who have been living under a rock the last couple of years, I will point out a few things about our choices for November's election.
To be transparent: I attempted to garner enough support to run against incumbent State Representative Valerie A. Stuart because of her record of voting in a manner that doesn't reflect the will of the people in her district. I also plan on continuing to serve the people of Vermont as a trustee for the Vermont Veterans' Home.
A few examples of Representative Stuart's total disregard for the people's will shows in her personal agenda not being left at home when she goes to work for us in Montpelier.
I know most of us do not want to see Vermont's state government increase spending faster than revenues come in, and Representative Stuart voted for an increased state budget. She also voted yes on a budget adjusted upward by $91 million.
The Representative voted to approve $37 million in new miscellaneous taxes, $11 million in new and increased Department of Motor Vehicle fees, and $7.9 million in property-tax increases.
From the research I have been able to do, if the House of Representatives had just left Act 46 alone and in place, Vermont homeowners would have realized a cut in their property taxes.
Representative Stuart voted yes on an attempt to give Vermont homeowners property-tax relief as a result of penalties in spending caps, which in return provided $0 in relief and raised property taxes. What that bill did accomplish was to raise the education spending caps allowed before a penalty is activated.
Representative Stuart voted yes on raising net fees paid in Vermont by $24 million for general-revenue projects of the state, a record increase in these fees.
By voting yes on House Bill 187, she in effect approved of another tax on our area's micro and small businesses. When fully rolled out, that vote will remove $14.3 million from local businesses' pockets.
Representative Stuart voted no to striking the $1.6 million tax increase from the Telecom Bill, and she also voted yes to more taxes on tobacco and on other tobacco products by 39 cents and 32 cents, respectively.
Representative Stuart voted yes on blocking legalization of marijuana in our state based on a faulty scientific study that has been proven to be completely untrue.
Just on the basis of these votes, this woman - Windham 2-1's purported representative - has not voted on a single bill that benefits the individuals and businesses in our area. I truly wonder if she is in Vermont's House of Representatives for her own personal gain with a personal agenda.
We cannot create new taxes, nor can the state government be allowed to spend our way out of a hole, which Representative Stuart obviously thinks the government can do.
Also, she seems to have a complete disregard for the little guys in Vermont who will bear the brunt of all the new taxes and fees that she has supported.
As much support and yes votes as the controversial bills have received from Representative Stuart, the Vermont Veterans Home should not have to beg for funding every year to support and care for the men and women whom have served this country unselfishly.